North One East: Bradford & Bingley 36 Northern 30

THE North One East table has now clearly split into a top six and a bottom eight, with only six points separating the side in seventh (Huddersfield YMCA) and 11th-placed Percy Park.

Bradford & Bingley sit in the middle of that pack with three points less than YMCA and three more than Percy Park, but there will be little let up in the pressure on the Wagon Lane side over the coming weeks as they have fixtures against all the clubs surrounding them, starting with a visit to West Hartlepool next Saturday, followed by the visit of Huddersfield YMCA on February 3.

In this game against the division's bottom club, the Bees did all they needed to, running in six tries to claim maximum points, but crucially defensive laxity in time added on allowed Northern to pinch two bonus points as they scored two tries to pull within six points of Martin Whitcombe's men, which in the final shakedown at the end of April may be vital in deciding the relegation places.

Due to the heavy conditions  on the main pitch at Wagon Lane, the game was played over the river on the second-team pitch, which, despite the rain, snow and frost of recent days looked in immaculate condition for a pitch at the end of January, and it was hoped it would allow the Bees to keep the ball in hand and run at their opposition.

Northern were on the scoreboard in the first minute with a penalty by fly half Charlie Burrowes, but the Bees responded almost immediately through a Tom Cummins try, converted by Tanner Lightfoot in the fifth minute.

Burrowes slotted a second three-pointer with ten minutes played to bring the score to 7-6, and the Bees then began to lose their shape, and although the stated intent was to play a high-tempo running game, the home side were now guilty of some very poor kicking which gifted field position and possession to their visitors.

Northern were able to capitalise on some ragged defensive alignment out wide as Jonny Woodhead trotted in for a score on 26 minutes.

The hosts tightened up their kicking game and started to run at the Northern defence, with Cummins and skipper Tom Booth always managing to dent the visiting defence and keep the Bees rolling forward.

With five minutes to go before half-time, scrum half Dan Jeffrey was able to dart over from close range after sustained pressure.

Almost immediately, Bradford & Bingley were on the scoreboard again, with Lightfoot and Booth both getting over the whitewash to put the home side 22-11 in front.

The Bees seemed to have come out for the second half much sharper and more focused than they had for much of the opening 40 minutes, and the game seemed theirs for the taking.

However, Northern refused to lie down and Alex Clark was able to pull a converted score back for the visitors.

There had been a long break in play as Northern's No 8 James Millington was taken off on a stretcher to an ambulance just after half-time, which may have upset the rhythm of the game for both sides.

When Max Mountain galloped over for the Bees' fifth try of the afternoon, converted by Dominic Walker, the Bees appeared to be firmly in control and cruising to a relatively straightforward win.

Skipper Booth added the cherry on top with a charge to the line in the 67th minute, and with Walker adding the extras it was now 36-18, and that should have been that.

Booth left the field having injured himself during that one-man stampede to the line, but there seemed to be no reason for concern as the home side were now comfortably on top.

However, full credit to the visitors, who refused to stick to the script and took the game back to the Bees, who seemed to have collectively eased off.

As time ticked past 80 minutes, Northern's endeavour was rewarded with a converted score from Dan Matthews.

With Northern's next foray into Bees territory, it seemed all the home side needed was someone to put boot to ball to clear their lines and end the game, but an inability to get the ball into touch gifted Northern possession and Michael Wilson was over the whitewash, with Burrowes' conversion securing the losing bonus point.